Kaurane-type diterpenoids from Chromoleana odorata, their X-ray diffraction studies and potent α-glucosidase inhibition of 16-kauren-19-oic acid

A new diterpenoid, 15-angeloyloxy-16,17-epoxy-19-kauronic acid (1), along with five known metabolites, 16-kauren-19-oic acid (2), 6′-hydroxy-2′,3′,4,4′-tetramethoxychalcone (3), isosakuranetin (4), acacetin (5), and kaempferide (6) was isolated from the organic extracts of the roots of Chromoleana odorata. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic evidences. The structures of 1 and 2 were further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Compound 2 exhibited significant α-glucosidase inhibitory and antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis.     

The effectiveness of consistent roguing in managing banana bunchy top disease in smallholder production in Africa

The removal of infected individuals is a common practice in the management of plant disease outbreaks. It minimizes the contact between healthy individuals and inoculum sources by reducing the infectious window of contaminated individuals. This requires early detection and consistent removal at landscape scale. Roguing of mats with symptoms of banana bunchy top disease (BBTD) in Cavendish banana production systems has been tested in Australia, using trained personnel, but has never been tested in smallholder systems. We studied the effectiveness of long-term consistent roguing in prolonging the productivity of banana orchards under smallholder farming systems in highland banana and plantain dominated production systems in Africa. We assessed the possibility of low-risk seed sourcing from the managed plots. Roguing reduced BBTD incidence to 2% in managed farmer fields and to 10% in experimental field plots, while a nonmanaged field eventually collapsed in the same period. With roguing, new infections decreased monthly compared to an exponential increase in a nonmanaged field. The emergence of new infections in both managed and nonmanaged farms followed a seasonal cycle. BBTD managed plots were a source of low-risk seed for replacing the rogued mats in the same fields, but perhaps not safe for use in nonendemic areas. We conclude that it is possible for smallholder farmers to recover and maintain banana productivity with rigorous roguing, which would entail early identification of symptoms and early removal of diseased mats. Studies are needed on the intensity of roguing under different disease and production conditions.     

Effect of soil amendments, intercropping and planting time in combination on the severity of cassava bacterial blight and yield in two ecozones of West Africa

The severity of cassava bacterial blight at two sites in the forest-savanna transition (FST) and dry savanna (DS) zones of West Africa were studied by assessing the effects of: (i) shift of planting date; (ii) potassium fertilizer application and mulching; (iii) intercropping cassava with sorghum or cowpea vs. cassava monoculture; and (iv) the combination of these measures. Disease severity of bacterial blight in two genotypes was generally reduced by 20–60% by late planting, without a negative effect on cassava root yield, in monocropping systems in most treatments in the FST zone (reduction in four treatments, and increase in two treatments, out of 19) and the DS zone (two of eight treatments in 1 year). Late planting led to crop failure in the DS zone in the second year. Intercropping cassava with sorghum reduced bacterial blight severity significantly, up to 80% at normal (all treatments) and late planting time (three out of six treatments) in the FST zone, and in some treatments (four out of seven) at normal planting in the DS zone. Intercropping of cassava with cowpea in the DS zone also reduced disease severity. Cassava-sorghum intercropping generally had no effect on root yield compared with cassava monocropping at both planting times in the FST zone and provided an additional harvest of the intercrop, while yield was affected by intercropping in the DS zone at late, and in some treatments (three out of seven) at normal, planting time. Mulching and potassium treatment had no effect on disease severity, but increased or decreased root yield in some treatments in both sites. Analysis of combined data showed that cropping system, year, site, and site combined with planting date were the highest significant determinants of variation in bacterial blight development.     

Leaf Waxes of Cassava (Manihot Esculenta Crantz) in Relation to Ecozone and Resistance to Xanthomonas Blight

Summary To elucidate the role of leaf surface structures as first barriers to confer resistance to bacterial blight, leaf stomata and their occlusion with leaf waxes were studied in cassava genotypes. For the first time, cassava leaf waxes were quantitatively and qualitatively analysed. Comparing the susceptible and resistant standard genotypes BEN86052 and TMS30572, respectively, the total quantity of triterpenes was significantly higher in the resistant genotype, grown in three ecozones of Benin. In cuticular leaf waxes of seven cassava genotypes the triterpenes beta amyrins, epi-taraxerol, taraxerone and taraxerol were dominant constituents across genotypes, and alkanes (C₂₅-C₃₃) and acids (C₃₀ and C₃₂) occurred in minor concentrations. Comparing seven genotypes, no clear relation between resistance or ecozones and total quantities of the major wax constituents was observed. Only the highly resistant genotype TMS30572 showed high triterpene levels irrespective of ecozone. Scanning electron-microscopy revealed a regular distribution of waxes at the abaxial leaf surface, covering and occluding stomatal pores of susceptible and resistant genotypes, while on the adaxial leaf surface waxes were in form of crystalloids and did not occlude the stomata. The number of stomata on the abaxial surfaces was about 7–11 fold higher than on the adaxial surfaces, where stomata were located along the midrib and major veins. No significant differences in stomata number were observed between genotypes varying in resistance to bacterial blight. It is suggested, that stomata on the adaxial surface might be portals of entry for the bacteria.     

A rapid and sensitive method for the simultaneous analysis of aliphatic and polar molecules containing free carboxyl groups in plant extracts by LC-MS/MS

Background  

Aliphatic molecules containing free carboxyl groups are important intermediates in many metabolic and signalling reactions, however, they accumulate to low levels in tissues and are not efficiently ionized by electrospray ionization (ESI) compared to more polar substances. Quantification of aliphatic molecules becomes therefore difficult when small amounts of tissue are available for analysis. Traditional methods for analysis of these molecules require purification or enrichment steps, which are onerous when multiple samples need to be analyzed. In contrast to aliphatic molecules, more polar substances containing free carboxyl groups such as some phytohormones are efficiently ionized by ESI and suitable for analysis by LC-MS/MS. Thus, the development of a method with which aliphatic and polar molecules -which their unmodified forms differ dramatically in their efficiencies of ionization by ESI- can be simultaneously detected with similar sensitivities would substantially simplify the analysis of complex biological matrices.     

Genotype × environment interactions in symptom development and yield of cassava genotypes with artificial and natural cassava bacterial blight infections

Thirty-seven cassava genotypes from Benin, including advanced breeding lines, were tested for their reaction to bacterial blight in the forest–savanna transition, wet savanna and dry savanna zones of Benin. Sixteen genotypes were repeated in 12 environments. In year 1998, genotypes RB92164, RB92022, TMS30572, BEN86004, RB92033 and Dangbo2, and in year 2000, genotypes RB92202, RB92151, RB92132 and TMS30572 were resistant in one ecozone. Among the more resistant genotypes, CAP94030, BEN86040, RB89509, RB92132 and TMS30572 showed low interaction across environments and were most stable in disease reaction. Ten genotypes were classified as high yielding across environments. Among the more resistant group of genotypes, only TMS30572 and RB89509 were high yielding, with RB89509 being unstable in yield across environments. Selection of genotypes proved reliable only after artificial inoculation. Comparing environments, artificially inoculated treatments in the wet savanna zone and in the forest–savanna transition zone with stable high symptom severity proved most suitable for screening of genotypes, while the wet savanna zone with low natural infection in year 1998 was suitable for production of propagation material, and the site in the dry savanna zone with natural infection in year 1998 was the best environment for cassava production. The correlation between disease severity and root yield was significant only for the non-inoculated treatment in the dry savanna zone in year 2000 (R = –0.58), but not in any other environment. Among the 37 genotypes tested, several genotypes can be recommended to farmers in specific ecozones, and genotype TMS30572 revealed as relatively stable in disease resistance and in high yield across ecozones.     

Chemical constituents of Stereospermum acuminatissimum and their urease and α-chymotrypsin inhibitions

Phytochemical investigation of the stem bark of Stereospermum acuminatissimum K. Schum. resulted in the isolation of 21 compounds, including two new guanine derivatives, 1,3,7-trimethylguanin-1/3-ium (1) and 3,7-dimethylguanin-1/3-ium (2), and one new phenolic long chain ester, 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl hentriacontanoate (3). The known compounds were identified as sterequinones A, F, and H (4, 5, and 6), zenkequinones A-B (7-8), p-coumaric acid (9), methyl caffeate (10), caffeic acid (11), psilalic acid (12), syringaldehyde (13), norviburtinal (14), specioside (15), verminoside (16), tyrosol (17), eutigoside A (18), ellagic acid (19), atranorin (20), and ursolic acid (21). The metabolites were screened for their potential against urease and α-chymotrypsin enzymes, as urease is targeted in peptic ulcer while α-chymotrypsin is used to remove protein debris in ulcer. Compound 20 was found to be excellent urease inhibitor with IC₅₀ value of 18.2 ± 0.03 μM. Compounds 13 and 18-20 are reported for the first time from the genus Stereospermum. The chemotaxonomic significance of the isolated compounds was also described.     

Increasing paddy yields and improving farm management: results from participatory experiments with good agricultural practices (GAP) in Tanzania

Rice is an increasingly important commodity in sub-Saharan Africa. In Tanzania, the rice yield gap is as high as 87%, due to a combination of production constraints and sub-optimal crop management. Reducing this yield gap may be partly achieved through the introduction and dissemination of good agricultural practices (GAP). We conducted 18 farmer-managed on-farm trials in Tanzania, to test a set of GAP components against conventional farmers’ practices (FP) for two consecutive growing seasons in 2013 and 2014. The objectives were: (1) to understand farmers’ capabilities in implementing GAP; (2) to acquire better insights into the merits, relevance and suitability of individual GAP components; and (3) to provide a case study showing that exposure to good practices combined with the farmers’ own experimentations can serve to improve and, trigger a positive change in the participating farmers’ crop management. Compared to the farmers’ own practices, average yield increases of 1 t paddy ha^?1 in 2013 and 2.7 t ha^?1 in 2014 were achieved when following GAP. These yield advantages were mainly obtained by a higher panicle number, improved harvest index and improved weed control. Farmers experienced difficulties with land levelling, planting or sowing in lines and using rotary weeders, but they were convinced that these technologies are important to boost their rice yields. The case of Tanzania shows that paddy yields can be substantially improved by GAP and that adoption of GAP by smallholder rice farmers can be triggered by stimulating experimentations with such practices on their own farms.     

Vascular epiphytes loss in exploited trees of the semi deciduous managed forest of Ndelele,East Cameroon

ABSTRACT

Forest Management Unit (FMU) is a growing phenomenon in Cameroon, impacting biodiversity negatively. This study was initiated to assess vascular epiphytes’ species loss on exploited trees to suggest conservation strategies. We hypothesized that: 1) epiphyte loss in this managed forest was significantly high and different with respect to phorophyte species; 2) epiphyte diversity loss has threatened status. Epiphyte survey was conducted on four most exploited trees in this study area. 63 exploited trees (Phorophytes) were surveyed. Shannon, Chao1 and Sorensen’s similarity indexes were used. Kruskal–wallis test was used to test the hypotheses. We recorded (70 epiphyte species, 33 genera and 12 families). Orchidaceae constituted highest epiphyte species with 43 species (61.4%). Epiphytes diversity was similar with respect to different phorophyte species (Sorensen?50%). Shannon’s index (3.36) showed a high epiphyte diversity loss. Kruskal–wallis showed no significant difference in epiphyte loss between phorophytes but a significant difference between zones, with canopies losing the highest epiphytes. With one epiphyte species’ status almost threatened and epiphyte diversity loss (significant); strict sustainable conservation methods like: epiphyte shade-houses and relocation are solicited. More data are needed from similar and different managed forest strata for epiphyte conservation policy enactment in Cameroon.